Stephen Tobolowsky

A steadily employed character actor since the 1980s, Stephen Tobolowsky has an instantly recognizable face and voice that’s made him a memorable presence in such films as Groundhog Day—where he played the part of persistent insurance agent Ned Ryerson—and Memento, where he played the key role of Sammy Jankis. Recently, Tobolowsky has developed a second career as a storyteller, which began with the 2005 feature Stephen Tobolowsky’s Birthday Party and has since expanded to the podcast The Tobolowsky Files for /Film. Developed and hosted by /Film managing editor David Chen, the podcast offers, as the introduction goes, “a series of stories about life, love, and the entertainment industry.” Tobolowsky is more than an actor who likes to talk about himself, though—alternately funny and heartbreaking, his stories collectively form a fascinating in-progress spoken-word memoir.

Updated 02/15/2012